Sanitary face-shield.



No. 737,591. V PATENTED SEPT.-1, 1903.

- B. DEMPSBY.

SANITARY FACE SHIELD.

APPLICATION IILED mm, 1903.

80 MODEL.

'UNTTED' STATES Patented September 1, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

SANITARY FACE-S HIELD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 737,591, datedSeptember 1, 1903. Application filed May 9, 1903. Seria1N0-1 56.328. (Nomodel-l ToctZZ whom it nmy concern:

Be it known that I, ELLEN DEMPSEY, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Albany, New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sanitary Face- Shields; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a face-shield for automobilistsand other persons subjected to the violent action of the sun, wind,dust, and other extraneous matter, and especially for those who arecompelled to breathe fine dust and dirt, whereby diseases are contractedby the inhaling of diseaseproducing germs.

In automobiling when the vehicle is moving at high speeds it becomesnecessary to protect the face, eyes, and lungs from the flying graveland dust, and especially when riding in the evening from the gnats andother insects which abound at that time of day. I have thereforeproduced an improved faceshield. which not only protects the face, butacts as an air-filter, so that filtered air only ever enters the nose,mouth, or system.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a front elevation of an opaque shield;Fig.2, a front elevation of a transparent shield; Fig. 3, a similar viewof a tran sparent filtering shield, both the nostril and mouth openingsacting as such as a filter; Fig. 4, a similar view of an opaque shield,showing the peculiar arrangement of the mouth-opening; and Fig. 5,asimilarview showing a different mouth-opening and its filteringmaterial.

In Fig. 1 the numeral 1 shows the body of the shield, which may be ofany opaque material and has an elastic band 13, preferably passing backof the head, by which it is held in place. 2 show transparent eyepiecesmade of any transparent substance desired, allowing the wearer to seeclearly. 3 shows the nose-piece, and 4 the nostril-openings, filled witha filtering material-such as sponge, which in active use is keptdampened, the breath when exhaled passing up and from under the shieldby the passages 14 14, which may be simply channels formed in thematerial of the shield and terminating, preferably, under the rim of thewearers hat.

The form of shield shown in Figs. 1 and 2 does not cover the mouth, themouth being closed and all breathing being done through the nasal organ.In Fig. 2 the exhaled air is exhaled from the mouth, thus preventing anyof it from being inhaled through the nose again. The material shown inFig. 2 is transparent, so there is no need for eyepieces.

When it is desired to cover the-whole face, the mouth as well as theeyes and nose, I employ that form of my invention shown in Figs. 3, 4,and 5. Fig. 3 shows a transparent shield, the nostril-openings beingoperatively plugged sponge or other filtering material and themouth-opening being fitted with a light frame 7 and revoluble on thespindle shown by means of the loops or eyes 10 10 and button 9, thespring 8 causing the frame 7 to snap shut as soon as released afterbeing opened. The frame 7 has an opening filled with filtering material4, and the mouthopening maybe opened and closed by simply turning thebutton 9. This is so constructed that when it is desired to expectoratethe mouth-opening may be uncovered by turning the button 9, and it willclose again, as above described. I prefer that the lower end be turnedbackward, so as to lie under the chin, but this is not material. Thenostril-openings are also plugged with filtering material. When desiredto especially provide for the escape of the exhaled breath, the passageways shown in Fig. 1 at 14 will be added to this form of shield.(Show-11in Fig. 3.) In Fig. 4 I show an opaque shield having eyepieces 22, a nose-piece 3, the nostrils being plugged with a filtering material4, and a movable frame 7, fitting over the mouth-opening, the said framebeing arranged to be thrown downward by being operatively attached tothe spindle shown and having the button 9, by which it is turned in theloops 1O 10, the springs 8 closing the frame after being opened, 11showing the clip on the frame 7 by which it is attached to the spindle.The frame 7 will be filled with a filtering material, it not being soshown in this figure in order to more clearly show the frame.

In Fig. 5 I show an opaque shield with a simple mouthpiece filled withfiltering material 4 and having eyepieces 22, a nose-piece 3, andfiltering material in the nostrils 4..

It will be understood that in the Figs. 3, at, and 5 the shield showntherein may have the passage-ways shown in Fig. 1 and marked therein 14:14, if desired, to provide for the escape of the exhaled breath of thewearer in an especial manner, and where the shield is to be worn forseveral hours at a time I use these passage-ways. My shields thereforeare so constructed that provision is made for not only the protection ofthe face and the lungs, but also provides means for the escape of theexhaled breath and for opening the mouth-covering, so that expectorationmay be accomplished without removing the shield, and this is verydesirable for automoblists and others who have to wear a shield forconsiderable periods of time.

Having shown and described my invention so those skilled in the art mayknow how to make and use the same, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A face shield having a nose piece; a mouth-opening covered by a coverarranged to be opened and closed at will, filtering material arranged inthe nose-piece and mouthcover in order that the air inhaled may befiltered and expectoration not be prevented substantially as described.

2. A face-shield having a mouth-opening; a mouth-opening cover arrangedto be opened and closed at will; filtering material in operativeconnection with the mouth opening cover, said cove'r'in closingbeing'spring 0perated and automatic in action substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. A face-shield having a mouth and nose opening; a'mouth-opening coverarranged to be opened and closed at will; filtering material inoperative connection with the mouthopening cover and with thenose-opening, the mouth-opening cover being arranged to closeautomatically, substantially as shown and described.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLEN DEMPSE Y.

